Inside Soap UK 33 - 2018

“I’ve met some of the great soap villains!” It’s EastEnders’ turn to campaign for your votes in the Inside Soap Awards this week, and we spent a lovely day with some of the show’s brightest stars for our special feature on p44. Everyone in the cast is very proud of their drama this year – especially the heartbreaking knife-crime plot – and they even gave us a few hints about what’s going to happen as evil Stuart’s vendetta against the Carters grows ever-more twisted. On that topic, I was very pleased to discover that actor Ricky Champ, who plays Stuart so brilliantly, proved my rule on soap baddies. You see, I’ve met some of the greats over the years – Richard Hillman, Archie Mitchell, Pat Phelan – and the one thing…

Evil Lachlan gets ready to torch the cabin he was hiding Rebecca in this week – but how far is he prepared to go to protect his secrets? The killer is panicked when he discovers that Priya has organised dog patrols at the glamping site close to where he was holding Rebecca hostage. And after he heads over to check the site, Lachlan is rattled to find a message carved into the cabin wall by Rebecca, which reads: ‘Lachlan is a killer’! So as Priya leads the patrol to the cabin, is she heading for deadly danger? “It’s nerve-wracking as Lachlan has completely lost control at this point,” admits Thomas Atkinson, who plays him. “If anyone discovers what Rebecca wrote, it’ll be terrible. He has to get rid of it…

“Henry needs money now – it’s desperation and the last resort” Bankrupt Henry is threatened by brutal heavies to cough up some cash this week – so he makes a grab for Rita’s savings in a bid to pay off the money he owes! While kind-hearted Rita has bent over backwards to take care of Henry’s lover Gemma, that appears to count for nothing in the face of Henry’s predicament. But when his attempt to rob Rita goes awry, Henry concocts a scheme against new Rovers owners Johnny and Jenny. With oblivious Gemma’s heart set to be broken all over again, how long before Henry’s terrible crimes are uncovered? “If Henry doesn’t come up with this money, he’s a dead man,” sighs George Banks, who plays him. “His actions stem…

How genuine are Henry’s feelings for Gemma? Henry has risked a lot by choosing to be with Gemma, and he does love her. His engagement to Cressida was an arrangement between their families, and he wasn’t happy. The times he’s been with Gemma have been the happiest he’s ever felt. Have fans given you a hard time for Henry’s mistreatment of Gemma? A lady sidled up to me in the bank and said, “Ooh, you’re a swine, aren’t you?” I was a bit puzzled, but then it clicked she was talking about Henry and Gemma! People weren’t best pleased… Are you enjoying being back at Coronation Street after Henry’s recent return? I’m having a wonderful time! It’s really nice to see Henry evolve. And it’s a…

“Ian wants to make Kathy and Mas pay for ruining his dream…” The day Ian has been dreaming of for months finally arrives this week, but will everything go to plan? Despite forming a meticulous strategy for the launch of his new business, Walford East, there’s a big shock in store for the businessman – as the night goes awry, he’s stunned to find his mum caught up in a passionate clinch with Masood! “Kathy and Masood have come close before, but this week things are taken to a whole new level,” reckons our EastEnders source. “It’s pretty obvious these two are made for each other – but Ian is a big problem. And of course he goes totally off the deep end!” The discovery of his mum’s new fella…

Ian has bumped into journalist Sarah-Jane before – quite literally! After accidentally clattering into her wheelchair, Ian was dismayed when she introduced herself as a reporter for The Walford Gazette. She then berated him for poor wheelchair access in the café, sarcastically telling him she hoped his new restaurant would be better. She wasn’t impressed as Ian and Masood explained their plans for the business – will she be won over at the launch itself?…